Vitamin B and AMD

Findings in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggest vitamin B supplements were associated with a 41% reduction in the risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).* The researchers, led by William Christen from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, preformed a double-blind clinical trial involving 5,442 women age 40 and older. Over the course of 7.3 years the women were randomly assigned to take a placebo or a combination of folic acid (2.5 milligrams per day), vitamin B6 (50 milligrams per day) and vitamin B12 (1 milligram per day). The combined B vitamin supplement was associated with a 34% lower risk of any AMD and a 41% lower risk of visually significant AMD. The results of this study suggest that B vitamins could be combined with other supplemental nutrients including the antioxidants, vitamins C and E and carotenoids beta-carotene and lutein, which have also been shown to lower the risk of AMD. AMD, a degenerative retinal disease that affects approximately 25-30 million people worldwide, causes central vision loss and leaves only peripheral vision. Early detection is a means of prevention so that treatment or rehabilitation can be undertaken early.

Vitamins A, C, E, lutein and zexanthin can be found in the Viteyes® product line. Visit viteyes.com. Vitamin B can be found in Viteyes® AREDS Multivitamin Companion, Viteyes® AREDS Powder, and Viteyes® Complete.

*W.G. Christen, R.J. Glynn, E.Y. Chew, C.M. Albert, J.E. Manson. “Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, and Cyanocobalamin Combination Treatment and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women: The Women’s Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study.” Archives in Internal Medicine, 2009, Volume 169, Issue 4, Pages 335-341.